About the Author

Lori Palatnik is a writer and Jewish educator who has appeared on television and radio. She is the Founding Director of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project, an international initiative that brings thousands of women to Israel each year from 18 different countries on highly subsidized programs to inspire them with the beauty and wisdom of their heritage (www.jwrp.org). She is a much sought-after international speaker, having lectured in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Central America, South America, South Africa and Israel, including featured talks at Yale, Brown and Penn. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area with her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik, and is the busy mother of five children, ages 25 to 15.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 27

(27)
sarida perez,
September 27, 2011 8:35 PM

idf

Todah, Mrs Lori Palatnik
I was told by a dear friend to view your tape. My son Joshua is leaving next year to the IDF, after college. I could only think who will be there for him on shabbath, sukkots, our holy days--you said it all--thank you
sometimes i wonder am i afraid of them leaving on their own or i am afraid of being alone.
i have two jewish sons, the other wants to be a Rabbi, also live in Israel. shalom, sarida

(26)
Anonymous,
April 7, 2011 10:59 AM

Your story just touched me and all I knew was that as I listened, I cried. Its so lovely and touching to know that every soldier is embraced as a child who belongs. That sense of belonging is remarkable. I hope you realize how blessed you,your son and your family really are !

(25)
travis scott perkins,
April 4, 2011 9:55 PM

this is a wonderful video. i love watch lori almost live each week im 18 and converting to judasim from catholism. and this site is great and this blog has been a great help. keep up the good work and thank you:)

(24)
Aliza,
April 3, 2011 5:44 PM

never judge

This is another beautiful example of how we should never ever judge each other, because you just. never. know. Especially here in Israel. I am dati, and have experienced very (!) secular looking people saying "with God's help." I have been on a bus in Jerusalem, where a young woman in a tank top and mini skirt pulled a book out of her bag - and started saying tehillim. My *extremely* secular landlord took my around my apartment when I first moved in to show me which rooms required mezuzot ("No on de basroom"). Despite my headscarf ;) You just never know.
And yes, your son will be well taken care of! :) Kol Hakavod to him for wanting to be here to serve.

(23)
Anonymous,
April 2, 2011 8:40 PM

Lone Soldier

Lori, You reminded me that my son was the first 'Chayal Boded". When he turned 18 years in 1977, he couldn't wait to travel to Israel to join the army....Golani, of course. He did not know Hebrew. It was a time when it was unusual for American boys to go to Israel just to join the army. He suffered terribly from fellow soldiers and his Commander all of whom did not understand why an American would come to Israel to join the army. It took an Israeli reporter to write about him to change the rules for "Chayal Boded". 11 years later his younger brother followed in his footsteps and his term of service was much different. He eventually made Aliyah.

(22)
Len Friedman,
March 31, 2011 2:59 PM

Similar Feelings.

I do alot of traveling selling Jewelry through out central Mid West. I've been taking pictures of all the Shuls, R.C.O. in hopes of finding a way to connect with small jewish communities to bring them some connection with the larger Orthodox community in Skokie, IL
I'd find it fulfilling to connect with Jew's other then Orthodox ones. I'd like to bring some history or what ever to them, with out pushing to hard. I have a connection with the Kollel in skokie, and maybe I could
have one of the Rabbis put together a CD with a hours worth of a Shir on Jewish History.
I intend to call the small communities in several states and see if they'd like the information on a regular basis.
Do you have any suggestions.
Len Friedman

(21)
David B.,
March 31, 2011 5:26 AM

Lori Shalom; Its all I can do to see my typing,as your video,has moved me so much,and I've been around about 80yrs. thanks to the Almighty G-d of Israel,and are not moved easily,seen too much,I guess! But! You! Dear woman,your message went straight to my heart.You refreshed this old memory of mine,to what the Jewish Identity is all about! Many thanks! my good woman, for prodding my memory,you are a Jewel. Shalom Alecheim. David B.

(20)
Miriam,
March 31, 2011 1:02 AM

Mother and lover of Israel

Lori, May the day come quickly when you and your family will be blessed to make aliyah, to make Israel your home. It would be a great loss for those of us who live in your community, outside the boarders of our original land, but it is evident that your heart and soul dwell in the land of our forefathers. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt message with us. May Zev and all Israeli soldiers and civilians be blessed with peace.

(19)
Anonymous,
March 30, 2011 7:37 PM

How can i invite your son for shabbos ?

I live in Israel, and my husband is a rav in an america, and we would love to have him for shabbos!

(18)
Paul,
March 30, 2011 6:10 PM

Touching story Lori.

Touching story Lori.

(17)
Anonymous,
March 30, 2011 7:09 AM

Lori, your story about The Lone Solider brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat..t his is the FIRST time I have ever responded to an Aish story. I must say that I regularly struggle with being an American with a heart divided between two countries. Your article hit me in the solar plexis. It's the small things of Israeli society that keep me in my Jewish homeland.Thanks for the reminder.

(16)
Cecilia,
March 30, 2011 2:52 AM

Israel is not alone

Hatred towards Israel is increasing widely these days, but there are still people from the other part of the world even if it is only a few, yet they stand for Israel. I am a Christian in a very big Moslem country, but I love Israel and its people. I stand for Israel. I know for sure the Lord is the help of Israel, the Maker of heaven and earth. He is watching over you and will not forsake you. We are with you and your soldiers in our prayers. Israel is not alone. Shalom Jerusalem, Shalom Israel.

(15)
Anonymous,
March 30, 2011 2:45 AM

Lori, Zev will be in our tefillot along with all the other Chayalim
Your mixed emotions - of sadness and pride are what make you so special..

(14)
Nechama R. Goodman,
March 29, 2011 9:41 PM

Your sentiments are meaningful as usual. Thank you so much for sharing them!

Not to G-d forbid trivialize your experience but, I find that when I am in Israel I have experiences similar to the one you describe multiple times each day. That is why, in addition to "religious" reasons, I feel that Israel is my home. It happens that I live here in The States, but my heart and soul are there in Eretz Yisrael.

(13)
rinah-b,
March 29, 2011 6:18 PM

Pintele yid

Dear Lori, I'm just a pintele Yid - and I don't know how or if I'll ever find my way home to our land and our people - but often when I read aish and especially your texts - and I've been doing that now for about 7 years - something touches me deep inside and I feel so close... Thank you so much for making me feel like belonging.

(12)
Sonya,
March 29, 2011 6:12 PM

This was a typical experience in Israel! B"H

Since we made aliyah from NY almost 5 yrs ago,we are still thrilled to experience daily the chesed, achdut, we are all one family,etc. I routinely meet "strangers" with who I soon talk as an old friend.Chiloni,BTW no shuch thing in Israel-as per your driver.we constantly witnes emunah that ALL have here&love of Hashem,their tefilot can teach us how to daven. Come home!Once u r here, you will understand re "galut" mentality.

(11)
Geraldine Fortin,
March 29, 2011 5:46 PM

Very Moving Experience with a Suggestion for Future

Lori - you brought tears to my eyes as I experienced your comfort from this experience - My suggestion - at the end put that extra smile and zip in saying the words "Almost Live" like you used to do in the beginning

(10)
Chana,
March 29, 2011 5:09 PM

We are all family

Every time I have been to Israel, leaving makes me sad. I feel so conflicted, US is where I was born and where I live with my family, but Israel is my heart. May G-d protect your son and all of our soldiers.

(9)
ruth housman,
March 29, 2011 5:00 PM

The Trip Home

Alone and all one are surely, related words, AS IS, a part, and apart. A bipolarity of words, the one container for the other.
We are Family, and we are also family in a greater, circling sense, if I am allowed, to go aloud, here, on Aish, a place where to my knowledge, nobody has been reading my words, because I never got any dialogue after years of writing.
Letters about love. Love letters in the sand. A desert that blooms when watered sufficiently becomes a paradise. In the desert of so many lives, around the Globe, I say, I recognize those faces, all of them, and those that speak a compassionate truth, that is love, is a story, I want to hear, that will bring us all together, and to get her, and I say, me, in all this time, might be to follow the Garden path, to find it, again, and the path in empath must be where we are headed. I LOVE Israel. When I visited, many times, the Biblical history came alive, And I am saying, it's not a story just about us, and it's a story about justice AND TRUTH, a deep soul journey, and that words themselves, the eloquence of love, will bring us all, deeply home.
As for ONE, wherever I am, wherever I go, I see, it's all there. You can bring Jerusalem with you, wherever you go!
It's here. In my garden, Among my flowers. These are the sunflowers I tend. I am at home, anywhere in the world, where I find LOVE.

(8)
Anonymous,
March 29, 2011 4:49 PM

Typical!

That sounds like an experience that is very typical of Israel! Your son may be a lone soldier, but certainly he will not be lonely or alone!!!

(7)
marc du Conde,
March 29, 2011 4:31 PM

becoming one..

When a man marries, he and his wife form a new family. When a citizen joins with the IDY to protect the nation as a whole, they too, form a new family. Each in turn forms a bond that will offer both the love and appreciation we each need to survive. what more can a person offer than to provide 'peace' in their world?

(6)
Rena,
March 29, 2011 4:02 PM

lone soldier Never!

My son also has just started his basic training for the IDF. So many people have held out their hand in friendship to help him. It is amazing to hear of the warmth and kindness. For surely it is not an easy task our sons have chosen. They must learn a new culture, how money & banks work, how to use transportation, get a phone so many things that are a test of their three P's as we have begun to call them:
Patience, Persistance and Perserverience!
May our sons serve in health and safety.
Thinking of you, Rena

(5)
Anonymous,
March 29, 2011 3:54 PM

Thirty-four years ago, I was drafted into the IDF, and I was also a lone soldier. The amount of support that I got from friends and neighbors and strangers was incredible. At that time there was no Internet, no cell phones, and even landlines were not ubiquitous. There were always people around to help. Next week, my oldest daughter will be drafted into the IDF. Though we are all a little nervous about this rite of passage, I am not concerned that she will find herself without support away from home. Despite our differences, Israelis are united in supporting our soldiers in every way that we can. Not only do they defend us, but they are our children. Every parent will help a soldier, just as we would want a stranger to aid our own sons and daughters in time of need.

(4)
Anonymous,
March 29, 2011 3:45 PM

we are all family

lori, may you and your family be zoche to live in this beautiful land.

(3)
Franesta,
March 29, 2011 3:35 PM

My Son Is Becoming a Lone Soldier, Too

Lori...
I understand your sadness and trepidation about leaving your son alone to defend our homeland. My sadness is accompanied by pride, though. Defending our people is one of the holiest things our children can do. The warmth and love my son has already received upon making aliyah, like the words of your taxi driver, remind me that though my family is here in the US, my home, my heart and my people are in Israel.
I will keep Zev in my prayers, along with my son, Sam, and of course our homeland.

(2)
Deborah Young,
March 29, 2011 2:58 PM

Your segments are very inspiring and touching.

Thank you for the excellent work you do. I am not Jewish but I find your work makes me think "outside the box" of my world. I do not understand (although I respect) your love of Israel. Thank you for making me a better person.

(1)
Yehoudite,
March 29, 2011 12:48 PM

Courage

Lori, you made me cry, I felt your pain but I also felt the hope of your new brother. May Hashem protect your son Zev and all our children, Amen!